Some freshmen get a chance for playing time their first season, but most redshirt and work to develop their skills for future opportunities. If they play behind established upperclassmen, they must wait their turn. That has been true for D.J. Woods. The defensive end began to make a name for himself in the spring, but he must beat out two older players.

The Fighting Illini football team needs defensive linemen, so when a promising defensive end discovered he had a passing test score, the Illini jumped on him. Dejazz "D.J." Woods is not well known outside of T.R. Robinson High School in Tampa, Florida. But he is a leader who may surprise in college.